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Intellectual property

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Ashurst

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Ashurst is recognised for its expertise in patent proceedings, infringement and invalidity disputes, as well as copyright and trade mark matters. The team is led from Sydney by Anita Cade, who advises on copyright, trade marks and content licensing. Nina Fitzgerald focuses on Australian consumer law, trade marks, designs and patents, working with clients in sectors including mining, life sciences, resources and finance. Stuart D’Aloisio specialises in IP litigation involving patents, trade marks and copyright, with particular experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Kellech Smith advises on both contentious and non-contentious IP matters, adding further depth to the firm’s intellectual property offering.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Nina Fitzgerald is a terrific, business-minded operator, with a great understanding of the client's imperatives. It is a great team.’

  • ‘The Ashurst IP team are my favourite team of external lawyers to work with. Experience with the Ashurst IP team has always been very positive - they are extremely knowledgeable and capable, approachable and able to translate complex legal issues into understandable issues and action items. This last point has been particularly important where the team are dealing with internal stakeholders.’

  • ‘What stands out is the fact that the team are friendly, down to earth and approachable! I have worked with a number of other firms and can't say I have achieved the same level of comfort that I have with the Ashurst IP team. I never hesitate to pick up the phone to call the IP team or to shoot them a query - any query - big, small or seemingly silly! Working with the IP team feels more like working with friends than working with lawyers.’

  • ‘Ashurst's intellectual property team (especially in its Melbourne office) is a powerhouse and among the best in the country, across all fields of intellectual property and in both transactions and litigation.’

  • ‘I have worked with Kellech Smith for many years, mainly in patents (pharmaceutical, technology and on damages cases), although I know Kellech’s practice covers all IP fields. Kellech combines razor-sharp litigation skills with deep transactional experience, to the benefit of her clients on both sides of that legal divide. In litigation, her exceptional knowledge combined with sound strategic sense in often complex matters means that her clients are in sure and safe hands. She is brilliant to work with.'

  • 'Special mention should go to Will Scott (for his astute brilliance and capacity to absorb complex facts quickly) and Elizabeth Arms (for her calm legal acumen and adept skill in mastering facts).’

Key clients

  • Pharmacor
  • Sandoz International GmbH
  • Samsung Bioepis
  • Commercial Radio & Audio
  • Crown Resorts Limited and Crown Melbourne Limited
  • Henley Arch
  • Henkel
  • Sun Pharma ANZ Pty Ltd
  • McCain Foods
  • LEGO Juris A/S, LEGO Systems, Inc. LEGO Systems A/S, LEGO Australia Pty Ltd and LEGO Shanghai
  • Virbac
  • Rio Tinto

Lawyers

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Kellech Smith

Practice head

Anita Cade

Other key lawyers

Nina Fitzgerald; Staurt D'Aloisio; Kellech Smith; Joanna Lawrence; Ashley Johnson; Will Scott; Elizabeth Arms